NBC continues to fill out its new NBA roster, officially announcing Saturday the addition of Carmelo Anthony to its studio team.
NBC Sports announced during its Kentucky Derby coverage Saturday that former NBA star Carmelo Anthony is joining the network as an NBA studio analyst. The network’s interest in the former NBA star was first reported earlier this year by Andrew Marchand of The Athletic.
Anthony, who has not previously held any role in sports broadcasting, is expected to work one or more days per week. He is the first official studio hire announced by NBC and joins an NBA roster that includes the previously announced Mike Tirico, Noah Eagle, Jamal Crawford and Reggie Miller.
Little else is known about NBC’s studio at this point, including who might serve as its host. Anthony was interviewed on NBC’s Derby coverage by one potential contender, Ahmed Fareed — who was filling in for an ill Tirico.
While Anthony has never held a traditional broadcasting role, he is one of many former NBA players with a popular podcast.
The studio was a relatively weak point for NBC during its previous run with the league from 1990-02. While hosts Bob Costas, Hannah Storm and Ahmad Rashad are remembered fondly, the analyst position was a revolving door.
After a pairing of Costas and Pat Riley in season one, NBC’s NBA studio would later include Quinn Buckner, Julius Erving, Peter Vescey, Isiah Thomas, John Salley, Mike Fratello, Kevin Johnson, P.J. Carlesimo, Jayson Williams, Pat Croce and finally Tom Tolbert.
